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Thursday, June 10, 2004
Malapatan police chief wounded in ambush
By Bobby S. Terencio
THREE men armed with high-powered firearms ambushed and wounded Insp. Allan Tanato, chief of police of Malapatan town in Sarangani, shortly before midnight Tuesday, according to Sarangani Police Provincial Office (SPPO) director Supt. Casimero Medes.
"We received the report around 1:30 a.m. from Malapatan police station that, while negotiating (a road) along Sitio Sto. Niño in Barangay Tuyan, he was ambushed by more or less three unidentified persons," Medes told reporters here Wednesday morning.
The ambush took place around 11:45 Tuesday evening while Tanato, driving alone in his private car, went to Sitio Sto. Niño to get information from an unidentified friend.
Medes said Tanato was able to return fire prompting the gunmen to withdraw towards unknown direction. "We responded to the incident but the armed men were no longer in the area," Medes added.
The police official said they were able to recover spent shells from M16 Armalite and M14 rifles and a rifle grenade reportedly left behind by the perpetrators.
Tanato sustained bullet wounds in his leg, shoulder and stomach, according to Medes.
He was brought to St. Elizabeth Hospital around 1:15 a.m. Wednesday and was reported to be already in stable condition.
Medes said it is yet premature to identify the perpetrators as their investigation on the incident is still going on. But he said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), New People's Army (NPA) and other lawless elements are operating in Malapatan.
He also added they gathered information that Tanato has been receiving death threats.
Supt. Medes however declined to identify the group or persons that have been threatening Tanato.
(June 10, 2004 issue)
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